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This easy crock pot chili recipe is easy to throw together and the slow cooker does all the hard work! There is nothing better than delicious chili in the Fall and Winter months.
Chili is something my family looks forward to and this classic slow cooker chili recipe is exactly what they want.
Now that I brown my ground beef or turkey before I freeze it, making it in the crockpot is a breeze. I know your family is going to love it too. This really is a great recipe. Also check out Slow Cooker Brisket Chili.
When I have people over for the big game, this is my go-to chili recipe. Everyone loves this recipe and always comes back for more. My favorite thing to do is have a chili bar. I make several pots of chili and have my guest bring over their favorite topping.
The kids love it and the adults do too! Everyone tries different toppings and really brings everyone together and that is my favorite part.
Ingredients for easy crockpot chili:
- Ground beef – You can use ground turkey or ground chicken
- Diced tomatoes – Crushed tomatoes work great or you can use a can of each.
- Tomato sauce
- Chili seasoning – Try making your own. We love using my homemade chili seasoning
- Garlic salt
- Onion – chopped
- Kidney beans – I use mine from the freezer
- Shredded cheese or Sour Cream to serve
How to make crock pot chili
- This recipe is easy to make. I love slow cooking because it requires little prep work and the crock pot does all the hard work! Woohoo!
- First you need to brown your beef or turkey in a large skillet over medium heat. Since I brown mine before I freeze it I just tossed the beef mixture in the crockpot frozen.
- Next toss everything on top in the crockpot (except for the cheese and sour cream).
How to make chili in a crockpot
- After you brown the ground beef, all you have to do is dump everything in the slow cooker. I cook this easy chili recipe on low for 6-8 hours or cook high for 3-4 hours.
- This chili recipe is pretty thick as I love a thick chili in the winter time. Once it has cooked, if you would like it to be thinner, I recommend adding 1 cup of beef broth to the crock pot for approximately 30 minutes.
- Stir occasionally until the chili is the consistency that you would prefer.
After this cooking time, top this chili with cheese, sour cream, and even some chopped green onion. Yummy!
Can I make this chili in the Instant Pot?
Yes you can! We love using out instant pot any chance we can. It has been a game changer for my family. You can easily brown your meat, saute your onions and vegetables and then add the rest of your ingredients.
Cover and set your pressure to about 20 minutes. Once it is done cooking set your pressure to release naturally before opening the lid.
Your chili is done quick and everyone has a warm bowl of chili to end their day.
Can you make your own chili seasoning mixture?
The short answer on this one is YES, definitely! I love making my own chili seasoning mixture. It not only saves money but I love knowing exactly what’s in my food.
Do you need to drain canned beans for this chili recipe?
For this recipe, I generally do not drain the kidney beans that are used in this easy crock pot chili as I find that it does not change the recipe or flavor if they are drained or not.
However, if you are going to use black beans instead of kidney beans (which would taste great too), I recommend that you drain and rinse the black beans prior to adding them to your slow cooker.
How to freeze Crock Pot Chili
We love to freeze chili. It freezes great and reheats really well. We think it actually taste better the next day.
I like to freeze small batches for quick lunches or for the kids to grab for an after school dinner. Chili is the perfect meal to make a double batch so you can freeze for dinner the next week.
Check out Can You Freeze Chili for more tips and tricks.
Ways to use leftover Chili:
There are so many different ways to use leftover chili. Here are some of our favorites:
- Top a Bake Potato
- Chili Mac and Cheese
- Chili Cheese Fries
- A frito Chili Cheese Wrap
Sides to go with Chili:
I love serving this easy crockpot recipe with some homemade cornbread. Here are a few delicious side dish options that you can choose from.
- Easy Homemade Cornbread Recipe
- Sweet Honey Cornbread Recipe
- Corn Bread Muffins
- Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread Recipe
- Gluten Free Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Recipe
- Top with Green onions (See How to Cut Green Onions)
Did you know that I also make my own homemade cornbread mix to make preparing cornbread even easier? I love having these cornbread mixes on hand so I can whip up some delicious cornbread in no time at all!
Tip for the best Chili:
- We like to saute onions prior to putting them in the crock pot. But it isn’t necessary. You can also add in the spices to really enhance the flavors.
- Cooking the chili on low in the crock pot helps the flavors to blend well together.
- You can cook this chili on the stove top as well. We cook it on low and if the sauce gets to thick, we add in a little water.
- Have you tried adding in some pepperoncini juice? It adds really good flavor and can be your secret ingredient.
- Adding in a chili more chili powder or slice jalapenos really adds an additional kick to the chili.
- Add in Bell Peppers or Red Peppers for some textures. The peppers are healthy and the kids won’t know they are eating them.
- I usually have a variety of beans in my pantry. So I tend to mix and match the beans and use what I have.
How to add in vegetables:
One of my favorite things about crock pot recipes is that they can easily be alter to fit the needs of your family and this best crockpot chili recipe winner for dinner is no different!
If you like spicy chili, I would recommend adding approximately ¼ cup of green chilis to this recipe or you can add your favorite hot sauce to add a delicious kick to this already easy and yummy recipe.
If you are needing more vegetables for your family and you, adding them to this easy crock pot chili is easy and simple. I have often added green peppers or carrots if I have them on hand to add even more nutrients to this already healthy recipe.
The Best Chili Toppings
Chili is delicious but the chili toppings is what really makes chili go from good to delicious! Here are a few of the best chili toppings.
- Sour Cream
- Cheddar cheese (or any kind of shredded cheese. Pepper Jack is delicious too)
- Saltines or Ritz Crackers
- Fritos or any kind of chips – Some like to use tortilla chips or Doritos
- Diced onion – Green onion or red onion is a personal favorite
- Hot Sauce – a quick splash will spice it up.
- Cornbread – crumbling cornbread on top of a hot bowl of chili is also delicious.
- Lime Juice – My friend loves topping her chili with this.
- Check out What to Serve with Chili for more ideas.
Print this easy crock pot chili recipe below:
Crockpot Chili
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 28 oz. cans of crushed tomatoes
- 14 oz can of tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup chili seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 onion chopped
- 2 cans kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef and drain off any excess grease. Put the browned meat in the crock pot.
- Toss everything else in the crock pot and stir together (except for the cheese and sour cream).
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
- Serve with topped with cheese, sour cream, and even more chopped onions if you would like.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
Try these other chili recipes:
- Copycat Wendy’s Chili Recipe
- Easy Instant Pot Chili Recipe
- Vegetable and Beef Chili Recipe
- Slow Cooker Brisket Chili
- Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili
How big of cans for the crushed tomatoes?
2 14 oz cans, thanks Alex
Hey !!! Luv luv luv the crockpot recipes. I’ve cooked several of your crockpot recipes so far and they are all great!!! Do you happen to have a recipe for a good red gravy maybe a creole or Cajun style? Something to pure over my rice ?? Thanks again for sharing your great recipes with us !! Delicious and easy to prepare!! What else could you ask for? Awesome!!
I didn’t have enough chili powder, so I substituted a packet of taco seasoning, which is essentially the same thing and easier than mixing up fresh chili powder. Still yummy. I also added a can of black beans and a big can of tomato sauce to take on the extra beans.
Looking forward to making this recipe Is your Chili seasoning chili powder or a mix? I looked for it but can’t find it.
Will comment again after I try it. Thanks
This looks really good and I’ll be trying it, but where is the chili seasoning recipe you said, “to follow”? Or is it just chili powder?
Molly – Here is the recipe that I use for chili seasoning. https://www.eatingonadime.com/homemade-chili-seasoning/
Let me know how you like it! Thank you!
Marion – Here is the my recipe for chili seasoning. https://www.eatingonadime.com/homemade-chili-seasoning/
could you cook the beef then add all the other ingredients to a freezer bag with cooked beef and freeze for later?
Yes, that would work great!
Looks delicious! Should we drain the beans before putting them in the crockpot?
Thanks
Do you dump the juice from the can of black beans as well ? Or do you drain them ?
This is my second time making this chili. It is probably the best chili I have ever made so far. Instead of adding a 1/2 C. of onions I just chopped up a medium size onion and cooked it with my ground chuck. The recipe didn’t say to drain the meat or not before adding it to the crockpot, but I drained mine. Those are the only things I changed, and it turned out yummy! Thanks for a great recipe.
I’m so glad you loved it!
Can you pressure cook the chili instead?
Yes, I would add a cup of beef broth or water and cook it on high pressure for 15-20 minutes with a quick release. Thank you!
This Chili was awesome!!! My husband even complimented me on it and he normally doesn’t care for chili!!!
Going to be my “ go to” chili recipe from now on!!
Thank you!!!
This recipe is excellent
Best Chili recipe ever!! My husband even complimented me on it and he doesn’t care for chili normally!!
This is now my GO TO chili recipe !!
Thank you!!!
This is a great chili recipe and I cooked a cup of elbow macaroni and added it 30 minutes before the end and it makes a fabulous chili mac! My grandchildren could not get enough and either could their parents!
Love this recipe! It is a easy cook once…eat multiple times. We make it into all kinds of meals! Chili, chili dogs, frito chili pie, baked potatoes w/ chili! See…cook once…many meal options!!
This is the best chili recipe and we served it with homemade cornbread. ExceBlanche llent!
I think this recipe is perfect for a cold day in Winter. I don’t eat beef or pork so I substituted ground turkey. I love how Carrie provided a recipe to make your own chili seasoning. The ground turkey and onions go well together providing more seasoning to the meat. The onions have a subtle sweet taste. Crook pot chili is as easy as pie! It doesn’t take long at all. With in a hour you can have chili.
This was easy and very good!
Excellent recipe for Chili
Love chili and this works and tastes great. So easy.
Love this recipe! There’s nothing better than chili to warm you up on a cold winter day! The cornbread is a great compliment to this chili recipe. Thanks for posting. ?
There’s a lot of chili recipes out there but my family LOVES this one ( I puree the beans because I have THOSE kids! ??)
There’s a lot of chili recipes out there but my family LOVES this one ( I puree the beans because I have THOSE kids! )
This was easy and very good.
Chilies one of my favourite things to make, and now I’ll be using ur recipe from now on 🙂
Chili came out pretty good , I added acopule things to it cause I like it spicy, I have made it 3 or 4 times now ?
An incredibly easy recipe to follow and very tasty . Thank you 🙂
My family really liked this recipe. It was super easy to make too.
Easy recipe and family loved it!
I loved this chili. Easy recipe.
Quick and ready when I get home!
Soooooo easy and my family loved it ?
Soooooo easy and my family loved it ?
Absolutely love Chili! We made this and my family devoured it! Thank you so much!
Easy Peasy! And very tasty. I used her chili seasoning recipe, too and it was perfect. The whole family loved it so it will be in my winter rotation from now on!
Easy to fix
This was the easiest chili recipe ever & delicious!! Next time time will double & freeze, it was gone in aflash. This is our go to chili recipe from now on. Thanks
Vbest chili recipe ever!!
Love the Crock-Pot recipes. I did tweak it a bit. I added a lb of pork sausage. Like the sage flavor. After meat was slightly browned, fried the onion.
Only put in one can of tomatoes. The tomato sauce was a can of plain spaghetti sauce and I add a small can of sloppy joe sauce. ( But not manwich) don’t care it. Add some chunky salsa(mild).
Besides the cheese and sour cream for toppings I like to throw on a tablespoon of guacamole.
So easy to make! I was hoping for leftovers for myself the next day… nope! Everyone devoured it in one sitting!! I will definitely be making this again soon!
Delicious!
Easy and very satisfying
So easy but so do good!!!
The whole family ate it and it couldn’t have been better!!
Definitely keeping this in the rotation!
EASY CROCK POT CHILI RECIPE
Absolutely delicious….hits the spot on a cold wintery night
This is a great recipe for a busy days. A hearted meal without slaving over a hot stove. I love my slow cooker.
So easy and tasted great. My family loves it. Thank you.
This had great flavor and i t so great to come home with dinner already done!!!
Just tired this for a warm meal for the day after Christmas and I LOVE IT!! So perfect and amazing!
Love this recipe , it was great
So delicious!
I added extra jalapeños because my family loves spicy, but easy and delicious.
Very good
This recipe was a big hit for my family
Such an easy and delicious recipe!!
So easy and yummy! I just love your recipes!
so good and easy.
Chili is definitely a house favorite!!! This is the best recipe! So easy and flavorful!!! We love it!! Cornbread on the side!!! Yum
So easy to make and taste like it was cooking all day
I always put tomato juice in it instead of tomato sauce. Grew up with this. Really good.
I’m a 71 year old senior man and I saw your recipe for sloppy Joe’s. I’m handicapped retired and my wife works full time. She has made Sloppy Joe’s in the past with man witch , not my favorite but when your hungry and the kids liked it. We have a Ninja crockpot so after reading your simple recipe I said to myself I’m gonna try it. All I can say is THANK YOU, my wife was surprised I had made dinner so she didn’t have to cook. The reward was she loved it and she hates change. I honestly have to say it was the best Sloppy Joe’s I’ve ever had and between the two of us there was nothing left.
I went to the grocery store yesterday and got all of the stuff to make chili from your recipe and can’t wait to try it. Again thank you for posting these recipes, I also saw some recipes for soup and I’m definitely going to try some of those. Please keep the recipes coming, it gives this old man something to look forward to.
The recipe (or my version of it) turned out great!! How do I save this as a readable (not so crazy with pictures and text) recipe? Thank you!
I put tomato juice in the chili. Grew up with doing this. Taste amazing!
Planning on making this Sunday! Do I use a regular white onion or green onion? Or just use the green onion on top as extra
I just do green onions on top as extra toppings.
Came across this recipe couple years ago and it is FANTASTIC!!! I now use your recipe and dropped mine. ? My family and friends love it. I will now use this recipe until i die. ???? Just made it again tonight since we had a bad ice storm. YOU MUST TRY. IT IS GOOD and EASY to make.
To make it cheaper, I added more beans (5 cans of kidney, pinto, black, gabanzo) and one pound of ground beef instead.